On May 29th, our community received devastating news: the brilliant, beautiful, and resilient Rojina Shrestha, her younger sister, her mother, and her father all lost their lives in a plane crash in Nepal. The plane, scheduled for a 20-minute flight, crashed along an area of mountains and deep river gorges. 

Rojina was a first-year Ph.D. student in the Cell & Molecular Biology program at Colorado State University. She found a home in the Snow Lab in the Chemical & Biological Engineering department soon after her arrival, and was excited to begin work on her Ph.D. project. Rojina had made it through the challenging first year of classes and teaching with flying colors and her enthusiasm for science and helping her peers shone everywhere she went. Rojina radiated happiness and joy on our community through laughter, support, curiosity, and wit. She was much valued and loved and will be missed terribly.

Unfortunately, Rojina does not qualify for the death benefit associated with her health insurance because she died in her home country. Rojina's brother, Roshan, and her partner, Sid, also a Ph.D. student at CSU, were not on the plane, but are  in need of our help and support.  Donated funds will be used to help cover funeral, travel and other expenses to support Rojina’s brother and partner as they come to terms with their loss.

We sincerely appreciate your help!